Swash plate mechanism



NOV. 15, 1949 SZNYCER 2,487,953

SWASH PLATE MECHANISM Filed Dec.

FIG-2 o n u m 3 w 1' m N 2 t 2 I m \5 N 2 x a: k

Patented Nov. 15,1949

Bernard Sznycer; New York; N. Y.', assignor'to Intercity Airli'ne- Company, Montreal; Quebec,

Ganada- Application-December 10, 1948,.Ser'ial No. 64531. InCanada July 29, 1946 3 Claims.

The invention relates to swash-plates as described'in thepresent specification and illustrated in the" accompanying drawings that form a part of' the same.

The invention consists essentiallyof the novel features of'construction as pointed out-broadly and specifically in the claims for noveltyfollowing a description containing an explanation in detailof an acceptableform of the invention.

The objects of the invention are to devise a sWash-plate-for helicopters which is placed below the transmission that operates the rotors; to produce a swash-plate whichmay be conveniently located near the operator eliminating long extension control links; to'prov-ide a-swash-plate for helicopters' whi'ch can be located'in'the fusilage of same; to devise a swash-plate in which the operator" has direct control over the rotors; to produce a swash-plate in which theshock and strain from the rotors are minimized; to devise'a swash-plate which is connected directly" to the transmission which operatesthe rotors; to produce a swashplate which rotates at the same speed as the transmission-shaft operating the rotors; todevise a swash-plate which is' simple and easy to assemble" and will facilitate quick repairs; and generally to provide a swash-pl ate durable in construction, practical in operation and efficientfor its purpose.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 isa front view of'th'eswash-plate being partly in section.

Figure 2 is a sid'eview'of theswash-plate being partly in section.

F'i'gureB-is a plan-sectional view as taken on the line 3-3 in Figure 1.

Like numerals of'reference indicate corresponding partsin the variousfig-ures;

Referring to the drawings, a swash-plate support or rotating support is indicated by the numeral ID. This swash-plate support is made of any suitable material and'of a predetermined size and shape. A bushing I l is fittedwithina: portion ofthe swash-plate l0. ThesWash-platebushing I l is slidably fitted on a hollow shaft I2 which is i connected to a power transmission.

A pin 13 extends through the entire cross section of the swash-plate support I0, bushing II and hollow shaft I2, being fixedly secured to the swash-plate l and bushing l l. The slot M in the hollow shaft I2 provides a means of rotating the swash-plate support In, and at the same time, permits this swash-plate support to be raised and lowered a predetermined distance with respect to the hollow shaft l2.

The control ring IE-is rotatably mounted on th swash-platesupport ID" by means-ofbearings It which provide bothrotary and vertical thrust support. The holes I! in the control ring provide a means of pivotally securing an operating mechanism for raising'and lowering the swash-plate support with respect to the hollow shaft Ill.

The swash-plate support l'llis pivotally secured to the inner ringer rotating member l'8by means of a pair of pivot pins I9. These pivot pins are fixedly secured to the inner ring I8 in alignment with one another. The bearings and H are mounted in the swash-plate support Ill and rotate on these pivot pins [9.

The inner ring l8"is' pivotallysecured to the outer ring or rotating member 22 by means of a pairof'pivotpins or hinge pins 23. These pivot pins are fixedly secured in the inner ring [8 in alignment with one another. The bearings 24 and '25 are mounted inthe outer ring 22 and rotate on these pivot pins 23';

The inner ring l8 which mounts thepins l9 andZS-ser-ves as a means of providing the swashplate with a type of universal joint. Theswashplate support In being pivotally connected to'the inner ring l8 by means of thepair of pivotpins l9, and the outer ring ZZbeing pivotally connected to-the inner ring [8 by means of the pair of pivot pins 2 3' which are at right angles to the pivot pins I91 7 The lower extension 26- which is of a predetermined size is fixedly secured to' the outer ring 22; The stationary ring 21' is rotatably mounted on' the lower extension 25- by means of the bearings28' and 29. The'spacers 30 and 3-! are fitted onthe'lower extension 26. Theseals32'and33are mounted in the stationary" ring 21, providing a means of retaining a lubricant'therein. The stop nut 34 retainsthe'spacersBEl-and 3| and the bearings 28 and 29 in position on the lower extension 26} A plurality of lower lugs 35. are fixedly secured to the outer ringZ-Z'or may form a part of same. A plurality of upper lugs 36' are connected to the lower lugs 35 by meansof bearings suitably arranged so that each of these lower lugs 35 and upper lugs 36 form a universal joint. A plurality of rods 31 are suitably connected to the upper lugs 36 and extend upward through the hollow shaft I2 for the purpose of communicating a reciprocating motion to the rotor mechanism of the helicopter.

portion of the rotor mechanism of the helicopter. This push-pull rod 38 is connected to the same pin I 3 as the swash-plate support l0, and is raised and lowered by the same operating mechanism.

The stationary ring 21 is adapted for connection to an operators lever or other suitable manual control means.

In the general operation of the swash-plate the hollow shaft l2 which is connected to a power transmission and to a rotor mechanism on the helicopter, rotates, turning with it at the same speed the swash-plate support 10, the rods 37, the inner ring I8, the outer ring 22 and the lower extension 26. The swash-plate is raised and lowered by an operating mechanism which is connected to the control ring 15. The stationary ring or sleeve 21 provides a means for tilting the outer ring 22 in any suitable inclined position, thereby controlling the reciprocating motion of the rods 31.

It will be seen from the foregoing that an effective and efiicient swash-plate has been constructed that will facilitate the operation of rotor blades on helicopters.

What I claim is:

1. In swash-plates, a swash-plate support, a hollow shaft, a bushing fitted within a portion of the said swash-plate support, said swash-plate support and said bushing being slidably fitted on the said hollow shaft, a pin extending through the entire section of said swash-plate support, said bushing and said hollow shaft, said pin being fixedly secured in the said swash-plate support and said bushing, a push-pull rod being suitably secured to the said pin, said hollow shaft having a slot in same providing a means for rotating the said swash-plate support and at the same time, permitting the latter and the said push-pull rod to be raised and lowered with respect to the said hollow shaft, a control ring rotatably mounted on the said swash-plate support, means in the said control ring for pivotally securing an operating mechanism providing a means for raising and lowering the said swash-plate support with respect to the said hollow shaft, a rotating member pivotally secured laterally and longitudinally to the said swash-plate support, a lower extension being secured to the said rotating member, a stationary ring rotatably mounted on the said lower extension, a plurality of universal joints suitably secured to the said rotating member, tie rods connected to each of the said universal joints, the said stationary ring in cooperation with the said lower extension providing a means for tilting the said rotating member thus communicating a reciprocating motion to the said tie rods.

2. In swash-plates, a hollow shaft, a swashplate support slidably mounted on the said hollow shaft, a pin connecting said swash-plate support and said hollow shaft, a vertical rod being secured on the said pin, means in the said hollow shaft permitting the said swash-plate support and said vertical shaft to be raised and lowered, said means also providing a connection for rotating the said swash-plate support and the said vertical shaft simultaneously with respect to the said hollow shaft, an inner ring, a pair of pivot pins securing the said inner ring to the said swash-plate support, said pivot pins being fixedly secured in the said inner ring in alignment with one another, said swash-plate support accommodating bearings which in turn rotate on the said pivot pins, an outer ring, a pair of hinge pins securing the said outer ring to the said inner ring, a lower extension being suitably secured to the said outer ring, a stationary ring rotatably mountedon the said lower extension by means of bearings, spacers being fitted in the said lower extension, and seals being mounted in the said stationary ring providing a means of retaining a lubricant therein, the said lower extension having a stop nut thereon providing a means for locating the said spacers and the said bearings on the same, a plurality of lower lugs fixedly secured to the said outer ring, a plurality of upper lugs connected to the said lower lugs by means of bearings suitably arranged so that the said lower lugs and the said upper lugs form universal joints, rods suitably connected to the said upper lugs and extending upward through the said hollow shaft, the said stationary ring in co-operation with the said lower extension, the said outer ring, the said lower lugs and said upper lugs providing a reciprocating motion to the said rods as the said stationary ring is tilted at any suitable angle.

3. In swash-plates, a rotatable support, a hollow shaft, means connecting said hollow shaft to said rotating support so that the latter is rotatably secured to said hollow shaft, and at the same time free to be raised and lowered with respect to same, an inner ring pivotally secured to said rotating support, an outer ring pivotally secured to said inner ring, a plurality of tie rods pivotally connected to said outer ring, a lower extension secured to the underside of said outer ring and said rotating support, said inner ring, said outer ring, said lower extension and said tie rods one said outer ring rotating at the same speed as that of the said hollow shaft, a stationary control ring suitably connected to said rotating support providing a means of raising and lowering the latter, a stationary sleeve rotatably mounted on said lower extension providing a means of tilting the said outer ring in any suitable inclined position thereby controlling the reciprocating motion of the said tie rods.

BERNARD SZNYCER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 2,256,918 Young Sept. 23, 1941 2,439,089 Hodson Apr. 6, 1948 

